WHAT IS HELP CENTER?

Help Center is a peer counseling and crisis intervention hotline run and operated by trained undergraduate students at University of Maryland. Since 1979, Help Center has provided free, anonymous, and confidential drop-in and hotline services to University of Maryland students and the surrounding community.

I’m thinking about calling or dropping in, but I’m not sure if I should.

It’s natural to feel hesitant about confiding a problem to someone who’s both a peer and a stranger. Perhaps the problem feels too big, or too small, to bother talking about. Maybe you don’t want to “burden” friends or family, or they seem too busy to listen.

At Help Center, trained student counselors are ready to listen for as long as you need or as long as you want to talk. We’re here to talk through any problem with you.

What will happen when I call or drop in?

A warm and friendly Help Center counselor will answer the phone or greet you at the door. You’ll be invited to talk through whatever is on your mind. No judgment.

Will the counselor help me decide what to do?

Help Center counselors won’t give advice or tell you what to do, but they will help you explore different aspects of your issue and discuss your options. With neutral, unbiased assistance, you can discover possibilities you haven’t thought of before.

Can I call or visit more than once?

You can call as often and for as long as you like. However, Help Center’s purpose is not long-term counseling. If you drop in once or twice and find that you might want ongoing counseling, we can refer you to campus or community mental health professionals.

What if I meet with a counselor and then see them later on campus?

Because they maintain anonymity, counselors won’t acknowledge the counseling conversation outside of Help Center.